On April 28, President Trump signed Executive Order 14287 entitled “Protecting American Communities from Criminal Aliens” to enforce federal law with respect to sanctuary jurisdictions to protect their citizens from what the Trump Administration calls “dangerous illegal aliens.” According to the Trump Administration “sanctuary jurisdictions include cities, counties, and states that are deliberately and shamefully obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws endangering American communities. Sanctuary cities protect dangerous criminal aliens from facing consequences and put law enforcement in peril.”
The Trump administration has repeatedly targeted communities, states and jurisdictions that it says aren’t doing enough to help Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as it seeks to make good on President Donald Trump’s campaign promises to remove millions of people in the country illegally. The Trump administration claims that sanctuary policies, including local rules or ordinances that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities, undermine the rule of law and endanger both residents and law enforcement officers.
The Executive Order directs the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security to publish a list of States and local jurisdictions obstructing federal immigration law enforcement. They must notify each sanctuary jurisdiction of its non-compliance and provide them with an opportunity to correct it. Sanctuary jurisdictions that do not comply with federal law may lose federal funding. The list can be reviewed and changed at any time and will be updated regularly as jurisdictions come into compliance
The Executive Order directs the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security to pursue all necessary legal remedies and enforcement measures to bring non-compliant jurisdictions into compliance. It instructs the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security to develop mechanisms for proper eligibility verification in sanctuary jurisdictions to prevent illegal aliens from receiving federal public benefits. The Department of Homeland Security is instructed to make demands on jurisdictions to immediately review and revise their policies to align with Federal immigration laws and renew their obligation to protect American citizens, not dangerous illegal aliens.
There’s no specific or legal definition of what constitutes a “sanctuary jurisdiction.” The term is often used to refer to law enforcement agencies, states or communities that don’t cooperate with immigration enforcement. If “sanctuary jurisdictions” are notified and the Trump administration determines that they “remain in defiance,” the attorney general and the secretary of Homeland Security are then empowered to pursue whatever “legal remedies and enforcement measures” they consider necessary to make them comply.
HIT LIST OF 500 ISSUED
On Thursday, May 29, the Trump administration released the list of more than 500 “sanctuary jurisdictions” across the country, accusing them of obstructing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Department Of Homeland Security published the list of the jurisdictions and said each one will be notified that the federal government has deemed them noncompliant with Trump’s Executive Order and if they’re believed to be in violation of any federal criminal statutes. The list was published on the department’s website.
The list of 500 was compiled using several factors, including whether the cities or localities identified themselves as sanctuary jurisdictions, how much they complied already with federal officials enforcing immigration laws, if they had restrictions on sharing information with immigration enforcement or had any legal protections for people in the country illegally, according to the department.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said this of the list in a statement posted to the Homeland Security website:
“These sanctuary city politicians are endangering Americans and our law enforcement in order to protect violent criminal illegal aliens.”
The DHS said the list will be updated regularly and urges all named cities and counties to review and revise their policies to align with federal immigration laws. Under the new executive order, jurisdictions that remain in defiance after notification could face federal funding cuts or legal action.
NEW MEXICO COUNTIES AND CITIES
The list of 500 are on the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) website and lists all states. By clicking on the states individually, the list of counties and cities in the states are provided. The list features the cities of Albuquerque and Santa Fe, and 23 counties, which is over two thirds of the state. There are 33 counties in New Mexico. The list of New Mexico counties are as follows:
New Mexico Counties
- Bernalillo County
- Chaves County
- Colfax County
- De Baca County
- Dona Ana County
- Eddy County
- Grant County
- Hidalgo County
- Lincoln County
- Los Alamos County
- Luna County
- McKinley County
- Otero County
- Quay County
- Rio Arriba County
- Roosevelt County
- San Juan County
- San Miguel County
- Sandoval County
- Santa Fe County
- Sierra County
- Socorro County
- Taos County
New Mexico Cities
- Albuquerque
- Santa Fe
The link to review the entire hit list of 500 of alleged sanctuary jurisdictions is here:
https://www.dhs.gov/sanctuary-jurisdictions
ICE WANNTS LOCAL AND STATE HELP ON DETAINMENT
ICE enforces immigration laws nationwide. Often ICE seeks state and local help in alerting federal authorities of immigrants wanted for deportation and holding that person until federal officers take custody.
One way that the Trump administration seeks to enlist state and local support is through 287(g) agreements with local law enforcement agencies. Those agreements allow local law enforcement agencies to assume some immigration enforcement duties and greatly expand ICE’s capabilities. The number of those agreements has skyrocketed in just a matter of months under the Trump administration.
ICE has about 6,000 law enforcement officers who are able to find, arrest and remove immigrants by targeting them. This is a number that has remained largely static for years. By relying on local law enforcement, it can quickly scale up the number of staff available to help carry out Trump’s mass deportations agenda.
Communities that don’t cooperate with ICE often say they do so because immigrants then feel safer coming forward if they’re a witness to or victim of a crime. And they argue that immigration enforcement is a federal task, and they need to focus their limited dollars on fighting crime.
“Sanctuary policies are legal and make us all safer,” said a coalition of local officials from across the country and a nonprofit called Public Rights Project in a statement. They said the list was a fear tactic designed to bully local governments into cooperating with ICE.
The link to a relied upon or quoted news source in part is here:
IMMIGRANT FRIENDLY CITY VERSUS SANCTUARY CITY
Trump’s Executive Order instructs the departments of Justice and Homeland Security to compile a list of sanctuary jurisdictions across the United States, targeting them for potential cuts to federal funding.
It was in 2001, long before Trump was President, that the Albuquerque City Council declared the city to be an “Immigrant-Friendly City” by City Council ordinance. The ordinance was originally sponsored by former Republican City Councilor Hess Yntema who represented the South East Heights area, including the International District that has the highest concentration of immigrants. Councilor Yntema’s wife is also naturalized citizen of the United States. In 2018, Albuquerque passed amendments to the original ordinance affirming the city was an “immigrant-friendly city,” again carefully avoiding the term “sanctuary city.”
The ordinance provides that the City of Albuquerque “welcomes and encourages immigrants to live, work and study in Albuquerque and to participate in community affairs, and recognizes immigrants for their important contributions to our culture and economy.”
Former City Councilor Pat Davis, who co-authored the measure, said the distinction was deliberate. Davis said this:
“We were really clear about being sure that we didn’t use sanctuary language. …We wanted to ensure transparency and cooperation, but also protect vulnerable residents.”
A “Sanctuary City” requires local government to essentially shield the undocumented from federal authorities and federal arrests. “Immigrant Friendly” cities on the other hand enact policies that are favorable to undocumented people to allow them city services like all other residents and its local law enforcement personnel do not make arrests for violations of federal immigration laws and only make arrests of undocumented people for violations of local ordinances and state laws.
Albuquerque does allow the sharing of arrest records of municipal and state violations with federal immigration agents. However, the city does not compile any information on immigration status of suspects and prohibits Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from using municipal facilities or resources. This balance distinguishes the city’s approach from more overt sanctuary city policies
WHAT’S AT STAKE
The stakes are high now that the Trump Administration has labeled Albuquerque a sanctuary jurisdiction. The city now is at risk of losing more than $68 million in federal funding, roughly five percent of the city’s annual budget. The potential loss of funding includes:
- $26 million for the Sunport and Double Eagle airports
- $11 million for housing programs
- $8 million for public transit
- $6 million for the Albuquerque Police Department
The link to a quoted or relied upon news source is here:
KELLER MAKES TRUMP’S CUTS ISSUE IN MAYOR’S RACE
Mayor Tim Keller for his part is being very aggressive in taking on President Trump and his threats to cut federal funding to the city.
On Sunday, March 24, Mayor Tim Keller spoke to upwards of 250 people seated in the gymnasium at the city’s Monzano Mesa Multigenerational Center located two blocks South East of Central and near Costco. The event was billed as “DEFEND ABQ, Standing Strong For Families”.
The entire program was Mayor Tim Keller discussing and outlining in detail the impact Trump budget cuts and other actions taken by the Trump administration will have on the city.
Keller emphasized the need for “steady and experienced” leadership and said this:
“It’s real here. … It’s real in every city in America. That’s what is so terrible about this. … What they are doing is destroying every aspect of our community, including the business community. … These dangerous cuts are very real for every city in America and would have huge consequences for our families in Albuquerque. But this is not our first rodeo with Donald Trump, and we will keep fighting for our families and defend our city against anyone trying to tear us apart. … These potential cuts are, pure and simple, dangerous to our city. Regardless of our party or feelings about the White House, no one in Albuquerque is better off when kids go without child care, a crime lab is without officers, streets and neighborhoods are without trees, or seniors go without meals. … Like during Trump’s first term and the COVID pandemic, I will use all the tools we have, create new ones, and work with local and state government partners to keep our city running. I will stand up for every resident as we prepare for what could be exceptionally tough times.”
Keller touched on topics ranging from budget cuts to immigration. Keller outlined Trump Administration major cuts that will affect the city services. The Trump cuts include federal affordable housing funding, cutting vouchers for the unhoused, and cutting funding for homeless shelters. Cuts to transportation include cutting federal funding for road improvements, bike lanes and trails, bus routes and for the city’s multimillion dollar “rail trail” development.
Keller noted that 39% of New Mexico families are enrolled in Medicare and the Trump Administration is talking about making cuts to the program. Keller noted that there are 44,000 New Mexicans who are employed by the Federal Government and how blanket layoffs are already occurring in the city and New Mexico.
Keller outlined how federal funding cuts will impact other areas including:
PUBLIC SAFETY: The city could see an impact to a number of areas in law enforcement including drug enforcement, crime fighting technology and a decrease in the size of the police force with federal funding for 50 police officers cut. Keller asked “Can you imagine how detrimental that would be, especially given the challenges we’re having with crime?”
HOUSING: Trump federal funding cuts will affect projects like the “Uptown Connect” project which is a federally funded mixed-use development that will replace the the Uptown Transit Center. Included in the development are almost 200 affordable housing units. Keller said this: “We will never see it if Trump keeps doing what he’s doing.”
MINORITY BUSINESSES: Trump also issued an executive order laying out plans to eliminate government entities, including the Minority Business Development Agency.
One area Keller claimed the city is fighting back against Trump relates to “diversity, equality and inclusion” (DEI). Keller said the city will continue promoting DEI as Trump tries to crackdown on DEI programs across the country. Keller pledged to continue with the city’s Office of Equity and Inclusion, the Office of Civil Rights, and the Office of Financial Empowerment, all 3 which Keller created, and continue with the city’s Climate Action Plan.
SANCTUARY CITY DEBATE BECOMES ISSUE IN MAYOR’S RACE A SECOND TIME
The divisive issue of Sanctuary City is not new to Albuquerque. In 2009, Mayor Richard Berry ran on a tough on crime and a tough-on-immigration platform and defeated incumbent Mayor Martin Chávez. Once in office, Berry allowed ICE to use city resources and operate out of the city’s prisoner transport center. The practice was reversed after Mayor Tim Keller took office in 2017.
Berry defended the policy of allowing ICE to utilize city resources at the time, saying it allowed local police to focus on public safety rather than immigration enforcement. Berry said this at the time:
“It keeps APD officers from doing immigration work, which is important while they’re fighting crime in the streets.”
In 2025, the accusation that the city of Albuquerque is a sanctuary city is once again becoming an issue in the race Mayor of Albuquerque as Mayor Tim Keller seeks a third 4 year term.
Republican Darren White is one of 11 candidates running for Mayor. White is the controversial former Cabinet Secretary of the Department of Public Safety for then Republican Governor Gary Johnson. White is a former two term Bernalillo County Sheriff and former Albuquerque Chief Public Safety Officer under Republican Mayor Richard Berry.
White is essentially running on the same platform Richard Berry used to defeat Mayor Marty Chavez. White proclaims himself to be a “proven leader,” “tough on crime” and a “champion for change.” White asserts that there have been 660 murders during Keller’s years in office, that an alarming number of businesses have had to close down because of crime and that Keller has made Albuquerque a “sanctuary city.” White proclaims in his announcement:
“Mayor Keller has presided over the most murders in Albuquerque’s history. His weak approach to crime and homelessness has failed and it’s time for change.”
In a fund-raising letter, White falsely proclaimed this:
“One of Keller’s first acts as Mayor was too make Albuquerque a Sanctuary City for illegal immigrants who commit crimes. Now we have case after case of violent crimes being committed by illegal immigrants, many of who have been arrested multiple times but turned back onto the streets by this Mayor’s backward policies. As Mayor, I will end the Sanctuary City law immediately.”
EDITOR’S COMMENTARY: Simply put, former APD Officer Darren White knows better, unless he flunked “Constitutional Law” at the APD Police Academy which is a real possibility given some of the things that come out of his big mouth. White knows Keller has no authority to simply “turned back onto the streets” people arrested for a violent crime as White claims and White knows its the courts that makes such decisions following due process of law. He is using the issue of sanctuary city to “gin up” anti immigrant fever as Trump has done on the national level.
COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS
Mayor Tim Keller has always pushed back against the Trump administration’s efforts to label Albuquerque a “sanctuary city” and to withhold federal funding from cities with immigrant-friendly policies. Keller’s position is that Albuquerque will remain an inclusive and immigrant-friendly city and will resist federal pressure to change its policies, viewing such pressure as detrimental to public safety and community well-being.
There is no doubt that crime and the city’s homeless crisis will be the two biggest issues in the 2025 Mayor’s race. Now that the Trump Administration has declared Albuquerque to be a Sanctuary Jurisdiction, it too will be a political flashpoint in the 2025 municipal elections where the Mayor and 5 City Council seats will be on the ballot.
The link to a related Dinelli article is here: